Isle of Wight board narrowly approves new squad building

Opponents concerned about funding $5.4 million capital project

ISLE OF WIGHT – In a split 3-2 decision, the Isle of Wight Board of Supervisors voted Thursday to construct a $5.4 million, 2,000-square-foot building on Great Spring Road for the Isle of Wight Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Supervisors JoAnn Hall and Rex Alphin cast the dissenting votes, saying they believe it's too early in the budget-planning process to single out funding for one capital project.

That issue did not come up during last week's meeting of the Smithfield Intergovernmental Committee, a group of elected representatives from the Board of Supervisors and the Smithfield Town Council.

Town officials had asked supervisors to delay a decision and make another attempt to acquire Virginia Department of Transportation property on South Church Street and expand the new Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department to accommodate both organizations. That was the original plan proposed in 2006, but the former Board of Supervisors later scrapped it.

"For us to pass this tonight is irresponsible … and premature," said Hall. Earlier this month, she called for further study into a combined fire and rescue facility .

"It's much needed … but my concern is how we are gong to pay for it," said Alphin. "I don't think it's good procedure to pull things out of the capital budget before we adopt the capital budget. That $5.4 million needs to be looked at in the totality of the capital budget."

After a public hearing on Tuesday, the Isle of Wight Planning Commission adopted the $161.7 million, five-year capital spending plan that that calls for $38.3 million on capital needs next fiscal year. The Board of Supervisors will get its first look at the proposed capital budget during an April 5 budget work session.

The county already has about $2 million from previous bond sales earmarked for the rescue squad building, said county spokesman Don Robertson.

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